Tady Light Jigs

The standard SoCal surface iron

The Tady 45 Surface Iron is the iron most Southern California anglers tie on first when yellowtail are feeding on top. At about 3 oz and 6¼ inches, it's the longest Tady surface iron and sits in the middle of the lineup for weight: heavy enough to cast well, light enough to stay in the upper water column. On a steady wind it tracks straight and swims with a tight side-to-side kick.

Why anglers reach for the Tady 45

• Proven swimming action: Kicks side to side on a straight, steady retrieve. No rod work needed.
• Long-casting size: About 3 oz and 6¼ inches, easy to work on an 8'–9' jig stick.
• Treble hook: The traditional surface-iron setup. The Chrome Blue Single Tuna Hook color comes with a single hook.
• Color range: The widest color selection of any Tady iron we carry, from natural sardine patterns to crackle, chrome and holographic finishes.

How to fish the Tady 45

Cast past feeding fish or working birds, wait a couple of seconds, then wind at a steady medium-fast speed in high gear with the rod tip pointed down. Don't pump the rod; the iron makes its own action. If fish follow without biting, speed up before you slow down. Every iron swims a little differently, so if one isn't getting bit while fish are around, tie on another.

• Straight burn: Steady wind, rod tip down, no pauses.
• Burn and drop: After 15–20 cranks, drop the rod tip and let the iron flutter for a few seconds, then wind again. Most strikes come on the first cranks after the drop.
• Bird-working: Cast beyond diving birds and retrieve through the bait.

Best for

• Species: Yellowtail, bonito, barracuda, calico bass, tuna and white seabass.
• Forage: Sardines, anchovies and similar-size baitfish.
• Conditions: Light to moderate wind with fish feeding near the surface.
• Gear: 8'–9' jig stick with a high-gear conventional reel; 65 lb braid with a 3–6 foot top shot of 30–40 lb monofilament, or straight 30–40 lb mono.

Specifications

• Brand: Tady Lures
• Model: Tady 45
• Type: Surface iron jig
• Weight: Approximately 2.9–3 oz (varies slightly by finish)
• Length: 6¼ in.
• Hook: Treble (single tuna hook on colors labeled Single Tuna Hook)

Choose your color

Start with Blue White, Mint or Mint White. Use Scrambled Egg when fish are on sardines or in greener water, and a mackerel pattern when the bait is large. Pricing and availability vary by finish and are shown with each color option.

Compare other Tady irons

• Tady 4/0 Sr. Light: about half an ounce heavier and longer, for casting into wind or matching bigger bait.
• Tady 4/0 Light: a smaller, lighter surface iron with a single fixed hook for calm water and 30–40 lb line.
• Fish holding 15–30 feet down? Switch to a yo-yo iron such as the Tady AA.
• Shop all Tady irons

Full technique guide: How to Fish the Tady 45 for SoCal Yellowtail.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Tady 45 weigh?

About 2.9 to 3 oz depending on the finish, with a 6¼-inch body.

Does the Tady 45 come with a treble or single hook?

The standard Tady 45 comes with a treble hook. Colors labeled Single Tuna Hook come with a single hook.

What line should I use?

Use 65 lb braid with a 3–6 foot top shot of 30–40 lb monofilament, or straight 30–40 lb mono. A 30–40 lb fluorocarbon leader also works.

How fast should I retrieve it?

Start medium-fast in high gear with the rod tip down and keep the speed up through the whole retrieve. A slow iron gets followed instead of eaten.

Should I choose the Tady 45 or the 4/0 Sr. Light?

Choose the 45 for most surface fishing on sardine-size bait in light to moderate wind. Choose the 4/0 Sr. Light when you need more casting weight or a bigger profile.

The lightest Tady surface iron

The Tady A1 Light Surface Iron is the lightest surface iron in the Tady lineup at about 1¾ to 2 oz and 5 inches. It's a surface-weight version of the A2 shape, rigged with a single fixed, welded hook. Reach for it in calm conditions when fish are feeding near the top and a heavier iron is more than you need. Hand-crafted in the USA.

Why anglers reach for the A1 Light

• Lightest Tady surface iron: About 1¾–2 oz for a subtle presentation in calm water.
• A2-derived shape: The proven A2 profile, built at surface-iron weight.
• Single fixed welded hook: Fewer tangles on the cast and during the fight, and faster unhooking at the rail.
• Hand-crafted in the USA: Built with the consistency expected from Tady Lures.

How to fish the Tady A1 Light

Cast to feeding fish, working birds or kelp paddies. Let the iron settle for a second or two, then wind steadily with the rod tip pointed down. Don't pump the rod; the iron swims on a steady retrieve. Because it's the lightest Tady surface iron, it's at its best when the wind is calm and you don't need maximum casting distance.

Best for

• Species: Yellowtail, bonito, barracuda, tuna and dorado.
• Conditions: Calm to light wind with fish feeding near the surface.
• Technique: Cast-and-wind surface iron fishing.
• Hook setup: Single fixed welded hook.

Specifications

• Brand: Tady Lures
• Model: A1 Light
• Type: Light surface iron jig
• Weight: Approximately 1¾–2 oz (varies slightly by finish)
• Length: 5 in.
• Hook: Single fixed welded hook
• Construction: Hand-crafted in the USA

Choose your color

Use the color selector to compare the Scrambled Egg, Mint White, White and Green Yellow finishes. Availability changes as colors sell through, so the selector shows the current options.

Compare other Tady irons

• Tady 4/0 Light: slightly heavier at about 2.6–2.8 oz, also with a single fixed hook.
• Tady 45: about 3 oz with a treble hook, for more casting distance.
• Tady A2: the same shape family as a heavy yo-yo iron for fish below the surface.
• Shop all Tady irons

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Tady A1 Light weigh?

About 1¾ to 2 oz depending on the finish, with a 5-inch body.

Why choose a single fixed hook?

A welded single hook tangles less on the cast and during the fight, and it comes out of a fish faster at the rail.

How should I retrieve it?

Cast, let it settle briefly, then wind steadily with the rod tip down. The iron creates its own action, so there's no need to pump the rod.

What's the difference between the A1 Light and the A2?

The A1 Light is a light surface iron built on the A2 shape. The A2 is a heavier yo-yo iron, about 4 oz, for fish holding below the surface.

A smaller surface iron for 30–40 lb line

Despite the name, the Tady 4/0 Light Surface Iron is one of the smaller surface irons on the market: about 2.6 to 2.8 oz and 5¾ to 6 inches. It's a classic for schoolie tuna and yellowtail on 30–40 lb line, rigged here with a single fixed, welded hook. Don't confuse it with the Tady 4/0 Heavy, a 5.9 oz yo-yo iron for deep water. Hand-crafted in the USA.

Why anglers choose the 4/0 Light

• Smaller surface profile: About 2.6–2.8 oz, a natural match for 30–40 lb line.
• Single fixed welded hook: Fewer tangles on the cast and during the fight, and faster unhooking at the rail.
• Proven Tady swimming action: The same swimming pattern Tady scaled up for the 4/0 Sr. Light.
• Hand-crafted in the USA: Built with the consistency expected from Tady Lures.

How to fish the 4/0 Light

Cast to breaking fish, working birds or kelp paddies. Let the iron settle for a second or two, then wind steadily in high gear with the rod tip pointed down. Don't pump the rod; the iron creates its own action. If fish follow without biting, speed up before you slow down.

Best for

• Species: Yellowtail, school-size tuna, calico bass, bonito and barracuda.
• Conditions: Calm to moderate wind with fish feeding near the surface on smaller bait.
• Line: 30–40 lb monofilament, or braid with a 30–40 lb mono top shot.
• Hook setup: Single fixed welded hook.

Specifications

• Brand: Tady Lures
• Model: 4/0 Light
• Type: Surface iron jig
• Weight: Approximately 2.6–2.8 oz (varies slightly by finish)
• Length: 5¾–6 in.
• Hook: Single fixed welded hook
• Construction: Hand-crafted in the USA

Choose your color

Use the color selector to compare the Mint White, Mint and Blue White finishes. Current pricing and availability are shown with each color option.

Compare other Tady irons

• Tady 4/0 Sr. Light: the super-sized version, about 3.5–3.7 oz and 6½ inches with a treble hook, for more casting distance and bigger bait.
• Tady A1 Light: even lighter at about 1¾–2 oz, also with a single fixed hook.
• Tady 45: about 3 oz and 6¼ inches with a treble hook, the everyday SoCal surface iron.
• Shop all Tady irons

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between the 4/0 Light and the 4/0 Sr. Light?

The 4/0 Sr. Light is a super-sized version of the 4/0 Light with the same swimming pattern. It's about an ounce heavier (3.5–3.7 oz), roughly half an inch to three-quarters of an inch longer, and comes with a treble hook, so it casts farther and shows a bigger profile. The 4/0 Light is the smaller, lighter option with a single fixed hook.

Is the 4/0 Light the same as the Tady 4/0 Heavy?

No. The 4/0 Light is a small surface iron. The 4/0 Heavy is a 5.9 oz yo-yo iron built for fish holding deep.

What line should I use?

The 4/0 Light is a natural match for 30–40 lb line: straight monofilament, or braid with a 30–40 lb mono top shot.

Why choose a single fixed hook?

A welded single hook tangles less on the cast and during the fight, and it comes out of a fish faster at the rail.

How should I retrieve it?

Cast, let it settle briefly, then wind steadily with the rod tip down. Keep the speed up; a slow iron gets followed instead of eaten.

The biggest Tady surface iron

The Tady 4/0 Sr. Light Surface Iron is a super-sized version of the Tady 4/0 Light: about 3.5 to 3.7 oz and 6½ inches with a treble hook. It keeps the same swimming pattern while adding casting weight, so it carries farther into wind chop than the Tady 45 and shows a bigger profile when fish are on larger bait. Hand-crafted in the USA.

Why anglers choose the 4/0 Sr. Light

• Largest Tady surface iron: About 3.5–3.7 oz and 6½ inches.
• Same swimming pattern as the 4/0 Light: Scaled up for easier, longer casts.
• Pushes through wind: More mass than the Tady 45 when you need distance in chop.
• Treble hook: The traditional surface-iron hook setup.
• Hand-crafted in the USA: Built with the consistency expected from Tady Lures.

How to fish the 4/0 Sr. Light

Cast past feeding fish, working birds or kelp paddies. Let the iron settle for a second or two, then wind steadily in high gear with the rod tip pointed down. Don't pump the rod; the iron creates its own action. It gives up a little flutter compared with the 45 in exchange for mass that pushes through wind and chop.

Best for

• Species: Yellowtail, tuna and dorado.
• Conditions: Wind, chop and long casts to fish you can't reach with a lighter iron.
• Forage: Mackerel and other larger baitfish.
• Hook setup: Treble hook.

Specifications

• Brand: Tady Lures
• Model: 4/0 Sr. Light (Senior)
• Type: Surface iron jig
• Weight: Approximately 3.5–3.7 oz (varies slightly by finish)
• Length: 6½ in.
• Hook: Treble
• Construction: Hand-crafted in the USA

Choose your color

Use the color selector to compare the Polished Aluminum, Black Mint Mackerel, Mint Yellow, Mint, Mint White and Mint Sardine finishes. Current pricing and availability are shown with each color option.

Compare other Tady irons

• Tady 45: about 3 oz and 6¼ inches, the everyday SoCal surface iron for sardine-size bait.
• Tady 4/0 Light: the smaller original, about 2.6–2.8 oz with a single fixed hook.
• Shop all Tady irons

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between the 4/0 Sr. Light and the 4/0 Light?

The Sr. Light is a super-sized version of the 4/0 Light with the same swimming pattern. It's about an ounce heavier, roughly half an inch to three-quarters of an inch longer, and comes with a treble hook, so it casts farther and shows a bigger profile. The 4/0 Light is smaller and lighter, with a single fixed hook.

Should I choose the 4/0 Sr. Light or the Tady 45?

Choose the Sr. Light when you need more casting weight in wind or fish are on bigger bait. Choose the 45 for most surface fishing on sardine-size bait in light to moderate wind.

Is the 4/0 Sr. Light a yo-yo iron?

No. It's a surface iron. For fish holding deep, use the Tady 4/0 Heavy, a 5.9 oz yo-yo iron.

How should I retrieve it?

Cast, let it settle briefly, then wind steadily with the rod tip down. Keep the speed up; a slow iron gets followed instead of eaten.